All right. Everyone pretty much agrees that the name "Duel2" just ain't makin' it. In fact it sucks out loud. So let's take a serious stab (pun intended) at finding a new name for this game we all love!
I've been pondering it more lately, taken a peak into a thesaurus a couple times, and come up with a few opening ideas. Feel free to comment on them and of course add your own.
If we can get a few good widely popular candidates, maybe we can vote and then present it to RSI, maybe at the summer Face if there is one...

Blood Feud.
An obvious choice maybe, but it makes use of a name/concept that's already part of the game and is one of the more exciting parts of it.

derivations: Blood Trial, Blood Struggle, Blood Rivals...more?

Mettle Edge.
I kind of like this one, like the play on the word mettle/metal. Yes there is a rock magazine named this using "Metal." Still like it. It implies the intestinal fortitude needed to step out on the sand and the steel used to win there.

Some other cool words that could make good combos: Clash, Forge, Honor, Glory, Steel, Iron, Sand, Challenge, Rivals, Blade...Blade Rivals??

Could be lots of cool, cryptic Latin type names out there, too. Tried to find some better words for "Arena" besides pit or field. Possibly work "Alastari" into it?

I think a great idea would be some new artwork for the game as well. Doesn't have to be expensive full color paintings, just some great, gritty ink or even pencil drawings of two bloodied gladiatiors going at it. Wish I had the talent to do it, does anybody who plays have skill at this (or know somebody) that could do it cheap or for free? Maybe a new short slogan with it as well, and of course a killer font for the title!

Input and ideas needed!

_________________Stik
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Last edited by Stik on Sat May 26, 2007 12:49 am; edited 1 time in total

Thanks for the input and votes, but let's try to not turn this into a regional issue if at all possible guys.
That said, Blood Feud may indeed not garner some votes because not all believe in the bloodfeud or just how it should be carried out, but it still seems like a good name to me.

To me, the trick is to find a name that's more or less region-neutral for those of us current players, yet still peaks people's interest and imagination while giving a good indicator of what the game's about.

_________________Stik
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The ConsortiumArchMaster Poster

Joined: Nov 23, 2002
Posts: 9472
Location: on the golf course, in the garden, reading, traveling, and now Consulting

Posted:
Sat May 26, 2007 1:24 am

Stik wrote:

Thanks for the input and votes, but let's try to not turn this into a regional issue if at all possible guys.
That said, Blood Feud may indeed not garner some votes because not all believe in the bloodfeud or just how it should be carried out, but it still seems like a good name to me.

To me, the trick is to find a name that's more or less region-neutral for those of us current players, yet still peaks people's interest and imagination while giving a good indicator of what the game's about.

As an Andorian, I believe in the feud part, but not in the blood. No way, sorry.

So, put you down for a "NO" on Blood Feud?? Even Andorians have to spill some of it now and then.
You've got a good brain for such things, Steve, I loved your new critical attack line suggestions a while back. Give us something else to consider!

How about "Alastari Steel?"

_________________Stik
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WoodyGrandmaster Poster

Joined: Nov 01, 2005
Posts: 989
Location: Lake Powell

Posted:
Sat May 26, 2007 1:14 pm

DA.

Duelists anonymous.

Oh...wait.

We're talking about a name to attract new players rather than describe our present community.

As an Andorian, I believe in the feud part, but not in the blood. No way, sorry.

So, put you down for a "NO" on Blood Feud?? Even Andorians have to spill some of it now and then.

I'm guilty of spilling it like everybody else. I just don't like too, nor have it done to me. Hence a general dislike of putting 'blood' in the title. Not that names with blood can't be cool.

Stik wrote:

You've got a good brain for such things, Steve, I loved your new critical attack line suggestions a while back. Give us something else to consider!

Trust me, I've thought about this on and off. Everything I come up with has a different problem with it. Here are some issues I try to work through:
1) Sounds lame in general (horrible vocab)
2) Not catchy (poor vocab or grammer)
3) Doesn't roll off the tongue well (jarring consonant breaks suck)
4) Too cliche (like 'Gladiators')
5) Won't generate online hits (Gladiators is good, but falls afoul of #4)
6) Poor selection of words to work with from the beginning!
7) Finding a combo with 4 syllables to match the old 'du-el-ma-sters'
Too 'setting' centric, like Ghea, Alastari terms.
9) Keeping the theme of 'dueling' even as a different synonym, or 'master' perhaps a synonym too, in the title.

I may be picky, so maybe we can eliminate worrying about a few of these? Like #5, 7, 8, 9?

Stik wrote:

How about "Alastari Steel?"

Hey, that one's pretty good. Rolls pretty well. I'll try not to dwell on what if falls afoul of in my list!

_________________Steve (Adie/Tankesh)
respect: noun. Willingness to show consideration or appreciation.
transitive verb. To avoid violation of or interference with.

Yeah, all those criteria were pretty much what I used, too, although I didn't consider online hits at all.
If we really want to get a better name, we'll have to have more input, more votes, and some people will have to be less picky and settle for a name they may not absolutely love.
Of course, then we'll have to get RSI to accept it and actually use it, probably the biggest hurdle. They should have just notified us of the impending name change in advance to begin with, held a contest with some kind of prize maybe for incentive, and done that.

The sad thing is they seem to be either too overworked, underfunded, or both, to actually promote the game at all these days. Either that or they just don't care and are coasting on the dollars of all us poor already-addicted souls...
That said, I'd still like to try to rename it!

_________________Stik
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DruidExpert Poster

Joined: Jul 30, 2003
Posts: 85

Posted:
Mon May 28, 2007 10:06 pm

How about Arena Masters? Then we would have to change the title of Arena Master to Arena Refereee or something...

hmmmm....Gladiators?

AdieArchMaster Poster

Joined: Aug 12, 2003
Posts: 1274
Location: Orange County, CA

Posted:
Tue May 29, 2007 4:32 pm

Oh! I got one. This may sounds absurdly simple, too simple even, but I got a good one!

ONE WARRIOR

It flows. Let's see how it stacks against my list.
1) Almost sounds lame but not quite. Somehow it rings both poorly and nicely.
2) Not very catchy vocab wise. Bleah...
3) Rolls off the tongue very well!
4) Not particularly cliche.
5) Term 'warrior' can generate hits.
6) 'Warrior' works and isn't odd.
7) Doesn't have 4 syllables, but it's 3 work very well and feel similar (Duelmasters is 4, but feels like 3)
8 ) Has no setting
9) Kind of keeps the theme. 'One' indicates the top, the best, of... well, all warriors.

Not exactly trade markable though...

If you can think of a better way to use the 'one' and/or 'warrior' concept with different words, please, give'em up.

_________________Steve (Adie/Tankesh)
respect: noun. Willingness to show consideration or appreciation.
transitive verb. To avoid violation of or interference with.